When Bush was sworn in two years ago, she used the funds to purchase things in bulk, such as software and supplies, at a discounted rate. But she knew $100 here and there wasn't enough.

"I made a convincing case (to the county executive and county legislature) about amazing, significant historical sites on the national register, many of whom weren't getting the attention and support we wanted to give them," she said. "It's about 360,000 visitors a year visiting museums and historic sites within Orange County. It's incredibly vital to us to support these organizations."

As a result of Bush's urging to the county executive and county Legislature, the 2012 budget for historic grants leaped to $16,620, and then soared again to $33,220 for this year, which includes the historic marker paint program and sometimes local events.

"Projects have gotten bigger and more expensive," said Bush. "We are working with historians, historical societies and museums."

The Historic Grants Program aims to protect the county's history by providing support, training and supplies. Grant money helps government and non-profit organizations get software to manage their collections, archival materials and expert advice on how to store their collections. They may also help with building renovations.

Nancy Conod, Minisink Valley Historical Society executive director, said she is grateful for the grant the Historical Society received from the program.

"Through a grant from the Orange County Historian Cornelia W. Bush, Minisink Valley Historical Society received a day with Jackie Hoffman Chin, collections manager and archivist," she said. "Jackie spent an entire day at our archive showing us how to best preserve and organize our historic collection.

"The fact that she came to our archive was a really big advantage, because we were able to show her what we have and what we had been doing with our collection. She pointed out some things we could do better and showed us how to handle some problems we just were not experienced enough to know about."

MVHS was also awarded a grant to help install copper caps on the chimneys of its historic stone building.

"Moisture had been leaking into the fireplaces and the surrounding walls, damaging mortar in the stone structure and old horse-hair plaster walls," said Conod.

Bush is proud of her office's expanded pages on the county's website, orangeocuntygov.com/history, linking many resources, for community organizations to private collectors, to help preserve collections.

"Today's collector is tomorrow's museum director," she said. "Hobbyists like to network with each other, and we become resources for each other. Establishing a museum based on your interests and hobbies has happened before here and in other places."

Depending on the number of applicants, grants can be distributed at $1,000 each. Applications are available at orangecountygov.com/history and are due March 15. The funds will be awarded on or before May 30. For more information, email Bush at historian@orangecountygov.com.

"Without the help of these grant programs," said Conod, "the local historical societies, museums and municipal historians would have a difficult time maintaining their collections and buildings."